Staff Software Engineer, Perception

THE COMPANY

Saildrone is a maritime defense company and the global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). With more ocean miles and real-world operational experience than any USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone maintains active, combat-deployed systems supporting national security and force projection around the world, 24/7/365. 

Saildrone’s manufacturing and R&D headquarters are located in Alameda, CA, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs in Europe and the Middle East. By combining proven autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and the most advanced and robust unmanned surface technology on the planet, Saildrone is shaping how the Navy of the future operates. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the forefront of maritime security and autonomous innovation.

THE POSITION

Saildrone is seeking a Staff Software Engineer, Perception to join our Robotics Software Org. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, Perception, you will play a critical role in enabling real-time detection, tracking, and classification of vessels across Saildrone’s autonomous fleet. You will architect and deliver perception systems that operate reliably in complex maritime environments, directly advancing Saildrone’s mission to provide persistent maritime intelligence. We are looking for a technical expert who creates clarity from ambiguity, drives high-performance systems from concept to deployment, and thrives in solving hard autonomy problems in real-world conditions.

This role is required to be onsite in Alameda, CA in the Bay Area 3 days per week - this is our hybrid model. This is not a remote position.

THE TEAM

The Perception Engineering team is responsible for the design, development, and deployment of cutting-edge multi-sensor perception payloads. We are focused on delivering robust, scalable solutions for global maritime domain awareness to combat illegal activities, support national security, and ensure the safety of our unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in the world’s most challenging oceans.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead end-to-end perception engineering efforts, owning the technical pipeline all the way from low-level sensor Hardware Abstraction Layers (HALs) to high-level multi-modal sensor fusion algorithms.
• Jump fluidly across different layers of the perception stack, seamlessly pivoting from raw data drivers to deep learning tracking models by leveraging extensive, hands-on domain knowledge.
• Bridge the gap between theory and execution by quickly productionizing state-of-the-art computer vision and machine learning research into rugged, real-time code.
• Be accountable for high-performance C++ software pipelines on real-time edge computing platforms, ensuring absolute reliability for months-long, autonomous ocean deployments.
• Work closely with Autonomy, Machine Learning, and Hardware teams to integrate and fuse multi-modal data-combining radar, camera, and AIS-to mitigate vehicle motion and wave clutter.
• Carry out day-to-day work utilizing our custom, next-gen state-of-the-art perception software and modern GPU-accelerated environments in accordance with established safety and performance standards.
• Monitor for system inefficiencies, sensor degradation, or algorithmic bottlenecks, take action to mitigate risks, and escalate when processing or power thresholds are exceeded.
• Design and maintain large-scale regression testing and simulation frameworks, utilizing Python to analyze real-world mission telemetry and evaluate algorithm performance.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of professional experience writing production-grade software (primarily C++) for robotics, autonomous vehicles, or aerospace applications.
• Deep, full-stack perception domain knowledge spanning sensor drivers, calibration, target tracking, computer vision, and multi-sensor fusion.
• Proven track record of evaluating academic papers or cutting-edge research and rapidly converting them into optimized, production-ready code.
• Experience deploying GPU-accelerated algorithms and machine learning models to resource-constrained edge devices (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson/AGX).
• Strong track record of technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration to solve hard autonomy problems from concept to real-world deployment.
• BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.

The base salary range for this position is shown below. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and qualifications. This range reflects the base salary for candidates in states requiring pay transparency disclosure.

Salary Range

$215,000—$270,000 USD

To view Saildrone's candidate privacy policy, please visit: https://www.saildrone.com/privacy-policy.

BENEFITS

At Saildrone, we’re building operational capability that matters-and that requires people who can do their best work over the long term. We invest in our team’s well-being, financial security, and professional growth so you can focus on delivering real-world impact with confidence and stability. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you and your family while you contribute to a mission with lasting significance. 

• Generous Time Off: Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave ensure you can rest, reset, and sustain performance over time.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium, multi-tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents-providing security and peace of mind.
• Shared Ownership in the Mission: Equity grants are a core part of our compensation, allowing you to participate in the long-term value you help create through meaningful, operational work.
• Retirement Savings: Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with flexible pre-tax and Roth payroll contribution options supports long-term financial planning.
• Investment in Your Growth: We support your continuous learning through an annual professional development reimbursement program, empowering you to sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving field.
• Relocation Support: For eligible roles, we offer relocation assistance to help bring the world’s best talent to our mission-critical locations.

Saildrone is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.